Gay marriages from June will be recognized

Natalie, left, and Heather Starr, with their daughter Libby, say their vows in front of Rev. Roger Bertschausen on the steps of the Outagamie County administration building on June 9 in Appleton. They were the first same-sex couple to be married in the county in June.(Photo11: Wm.Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media, Wm.Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media)Buy Photo

MADISON — Gov. Scott Walker said Monday that hundreds of same-sex marriages performed in June will be recognized by the state, ending uncertainty for those couples and likely putting a stop to a federal lawsuit filed over the issue.

There had been questions over whether those marriages would be legally recognized, since they were performed during a week when the gay marriage ban was blocked only temporarily. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the ruling declaring the same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, meaning such marriages are legal going forward.

But the status of the June marriages remained unclear.

Walker's office on Monday removed any doubt, issuing a statement saying the governor had directed state agencies to follow the law and update forms, manuals and other documents as needed to be consistent with the ruling. The release also said, "the state will be treating licenses issued in June as valid marriage licenses."

Walker had said last week that the fight over gay marriage in Wisconsin was over, but he did not address the status of the June weddings.

The announcement Monday means couples married in June will receive a host of legal rights and benefits that marriage affords, including the ability to file joint tax returns and make medical decisions for one another.

Kiersten Bloechl-Karlsen, one of those who married in June and was a part of the American Civil Liberties Union federal lawsuit filed last month, issued a statement saying having her marriage legally recognized will allow her to sign the birth certificate for her adopted 3-year-old daughter.

"We can now pursue a second parent adoption so that our right as a family to remain legally connected to each other, no matter what happens, is not compromised," Bloechl-Karlsen said.

The American Civil Liberties Union Wisconsin chapter filed the lawsuit on behalf of four same-sex couples who got married in June, saying they should be recognized as valid. More than 500 couples were married during the week when the ban was not in effect.

ACLU attorney Larry Dupuis said the state was doing the right thing in recognizing the marriages. He said he hoped an agreement with the state could be reached quickly to end the lawsuit.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen had said that county clerks didn't have the authority to issue the licenses in June and the legal status of the unions was uncertain.

Walker's office said state agencies will work with the state Department of Justice to clarify other outstanding issues that may arise to ensure that the law is consistently applied.

Walker voted for the 2006 amendment banning same-sex marriage, but with polls showing the public now supporting gay marriage, and Walker locked in a tight re-election fight, he has been less outspoken on the issue and said he defended the law in court because he is committed to upholding the state's constitution.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.